Lockable steering column assembly

ABSTRACT

A lockable steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle including a steering shaft, a shift tube positioned about the steering shaft and an outer tube secured to the body of the vehicle enclosing the shift tube. The lock means includes a slotted collar rotatable with the steering shaft and a sleeve rotatable with the shift selector tube. The sleeve is engagable with the slotted collar and with the fixed outer tube to lock the assembly and to prevent normal operation of the vehicle.

United States Patent 11 1 Rhodes et al.

[451 May 15, 1973 [54] LOCKABLE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY [75] Inventors:Alex Rhodes, Detroit; James Rose,

St. Clair Shores, both of Mich.

[73] Assignee: Ford Motor Company, Dearborn,

Mich.

[22] Filed: June 25, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 156,782

[52] US. Cl ..70/239, 70/252 [51 Int. Cl. ..B60r 25/04, E051) 65/12 [58]Field of Search ..70/182-:185,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1970 Wight et a1 .70/2483/1971 Wall et a1.

1,341,281 5/1920 Randolph ..70/l83 1,549,385 8/1925 Ryan t l ..70/l851,998,512 4/1935 Manton ..70/l85 2,204,908 6/1940 Olson ,.70/185 PrimaryExaminerMarvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Staab Attorney-John R. Faulkner, et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A lockable steering column assembly for an automotivevehicle including a steering shaft, a shift tube positioned about thesteering shaft and an outer tube secured to the body of the vehicleenclosing the shift tube. The lock means includes a slotted collarrotatable with the steering shaft and a sleeve rotatable with the shiftselector tube. The sleeve is engagable with the slotted collar and withthe fixed outer tube to lock the assembly and to prevent normaloperation of the vehicle.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEBHAY 1 5 [973 m5 m 2 E mww w W wwe mmm m A H i MM a LOCKABLE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND AND SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION To discourage theft and unauthorized operation ofautomotive vehicles, lockable steering column assemblies have beenutilized which when in a locked position mechanically prevent movementand operation of the steering wheel and shaft and of the shift selectortube and lever. This invention provides a lockable steering columnconstruction in which the locking mechanism is spaced axially downwardlyfrom the steering wheel so as to not prevent tilting or swing-awaymovement of the steering wheel relative to the remainder of the steeringcolumn. The locking elements engage the outer tube in a full strengthportion, spaced appreciably from the shift selector lever cut-away.

This invention further provides a lockable steering column constructionwhich is efficiently designed, exceptionally sturdy and reliable inoperation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of aportion ofa steering column assembly embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diametrical cross sectional view along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diametrical cross sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 4 is a diametrical cross sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. I of the drawingsshows an intermediate portion of the steering column assembly.Externally visible components of the assembly are a portion of asteering wheel 11 and a number of trim shroud elements 12, I3 and 14that cover the mechanical portions of the steering column assembly. Ashift selector lever (not shown) joins the remainder of the steeringcolumn assembly in the area of shroud element'l3. Similarly, the turnsignal indicator lever and the emergency flasher control button arelocated in the shroud element 12.

The three general components of the steering column assembly are theouter tube 16 which is attached to the body portion of the automobile,the shift selector tube 17 which is connected to and is axiallyrotatable with the shift selector lever (not shown) and thirdly, thesteering shaft 18 to which the steering wheel 11 is attached at one end.

The primary purpose of the subject invention is to provide means to lockthe steering shaft 18 and the shift selector tube 17 to the fixed outertube 16 when the vehicle is not in operation and the ignition key isremoved. A further purpose of the invention is to provide a lock-outmechanism which will prevent ignition unless the shift selector lever isin one or more predetermined positions.

A collar 19 is positioned about the steering shaft 18 and is connectedby a pin 21 that extends through a slot formed in the steering shaftwhich permits axial sliding movement of the collar relative to thesteering shaft. A compression spring 22 engages one axial side of thecollar and urges it toward a normal position, as shown in FIG. 1; Thesteering shaft and collar are received within the shift selector tube 17and are freely rotatably relative to it.

A sleeve 23 is positioned about the shift selector tube 17 and isaxially slidable relative thereto. Studs 24 are mounted on the sleeveand extend radially inwardly through axially extending slots 26 formedin the shift selector tube. The studs 24 perform two functions. First,they prevent rotation of the sleeve 23 relative to the shift selectortube 17 while simultaneously permitting relative axial displacement and,secondly, they are receivable within the notches 27 formed by thefingers of the collar 19 so as to lock the shift tube 17 to the steeringshaft 18. On the end of the sleeve 23 nearest the steering wheel 11 arelocated a number of axially extending fingers 28. When the sleeve is inan extreme upward position, closest to the steering wheel, the fingets28 extend through openings or notches 29 formed in an apertured disc orplate 31 fixed to the outer tube 16. The outer tube has four tabs 32which are bent radially inwardly to provide a mounting means for theapertured disc 31 which may be secured by welding, for example. It maybe seen that when the fingers 28, the openings 29, the studs 24 and thenotches 27 are in alignment so as to be mutually receivable, thesteering shaft 18 and the shift selector tube 17 are solidly connectedto the outer tube 16 which is fixed to the body portion of theautomobile. Under this condition, the ro' tation or operation of thesteering shaft and the shift se lector tube is precluded.

The sleeve 23 is displaced axially when the vehicle ignition key 33 isplaced within the lock cylinder 34 and rotated. The lock cylindercontains a rotatable portion 36 having a gear 37 secured to it which isengagable with a rack 38 axially slidably attached to the outer tube.The rack includes a radially inwardly extending finger 39 which extendsthrough the outer tube 16 and is received within an annular groove 41formed between two flanges on the sleeve 23. Rotation of the gear 37causes the rack to move in an axial direction which, in turn, causes thesleeve to be axially displaced. The sleeve is free to turn about itsaxis relative to the finger 39 because the finger slides within groove41.

FIG. 4 shows notches 43 and 44 which extend axially from the lower endface 46 of the sleeve 23. One of the notches receives tab 42 whichprotrudes radially inwardly from outer tube 16 when the shift selectorlever is in Park or-Neutral position. This axial extreme position, shownby FIG. 1, causes switch 47 to close the starter motor circuit of theengine. When the shift selector lever is in any other position thanPark" or Neutral, face 46 of sleeve 23 abuts tab 42 and prevents thesleeve from entering the extreme axial Start" position.

An electrical switch 47 may be operated by the movements of the rack 38,for example, to break the ignition circuit when the key is out of thekeyway and the sleeve is in its extreme rightwardly or upward locationor to close the starter motor circuit. The switch actuating mechanism isshown as an arm 48 which transmits the movements of rack 38 to theswitch.

OPERATIONS In FIG. l, the sleeve 23 is shown in its lowermost positionsuch as would be when the ignition key 33 had rotated the gear 37 to itsStart position. The broken lines of FIG. 1 illustrate the position ofthe sleeve when it is in its uppermost or Park" position. Intermediatepositions may be provided for the On," the Off" and the Accessorypositions of the lock cylinder and sleeve. Rotation of key 33 and thelock cylinder gear 37 in a clockwise direction according to FIG. 1 willmove the rack 38 in a rightward direction. When the selector tube 17 isrotatively positioned in Park," the openings 29 formed in the disc 31are in axial alignment with the fingers 28 extending from the upper endof the sleeve 23 to permit the fingers to extend through the openings,as shown by the dotted lines. The studs 24 will engage the fingers ofthe collar 19 and lock with them if they are aligned with notches 27. Ifthey are not in alignment, the studs will depress the collar against thespring 22 in an upward direction. At the first turn of the wheel 11, thecollar 19 will resiliently snap back so that the notches 27 engage thestuds 24 and the steering shaft 18 is locked to the sleeve 23 which, inturn, is locked to the outer tube 16.

We claim: 1. A lockable steering column assembly for an automotivevehicle comprising:

an outer tube attached to the body portion of the automotive vehicle,

a shift selector tube received within the outer tube being rotatablerelative thereto,

a steering shaft received within the shift selector tube being rotatablerelative to the outer tube and the shift selector tube,

first interengagable means attached to said shift selector tube and saidsteering shaft, respectively, being axially engagable and disengagableto lock and release the selector tube and the steering shaft,

second interengagable means attached to said shift selector tube andsaid outer tube, respectively, being axially engagable and disengagableto lock and release the selector tube and the outer tube.

2. A lockable steering column assembly according to claim 1 andincluding:

said second interengagable means including male and female and abutmentelements, said male elements being receivable within said female elementupon predetermined relative axially rotated positions of the shiftselector tube and the outer tube, said male element being engagable withsaid abutment element to prevent receipt of the male element within thefemale element upon other relative axially rotated positions of theshift selector tube and the outer tube.

3. A lockable steering column assembly for an automotive vehiclecomprising:

an outer tube attached to the body portion of the automotive vehicle,

a shift selector tube received within the outer tube being rotatablerelative thereto,

a steering shaft received within the shift selector tube being rotatablerelative to the outer tube and the shift selector tube,

a sleeve attached to said shift selector tube to rotate therewith,

interengagable means formed on said sleeve, steering shaft and outertube,

said sleeve being movable in one axial direction relative to said shiftselector tube to engage said interengagable means and prevent rotationof said shift selector tube and said steering shaft relative to saidouter tube,

said sleeve being movable in the other axial direction relative to saidshift selector tube to disengage said interengagable means and permitrotation of said shift selector tube and said steering shaft relative tosaid outer tube, 4. A lockable steering column assembly for anautomotive vehicle comprising:

an outer tube attached to the body portion of the au tomotive vehicle,

a shift selector tube received within the outer tube being rotatablerelative thereto,

a steering shaft received within the shift selector tube being rotatablerelative to the outer tube and the shift selector tube,

a collar attached to said steering shaft to rotate therewith,

a sleeve attached to said shift selector tube to rotate therewith,

interengagable means formed on said collar and sleeve and on said sleeveand outer tube,

said sleeve being movable in one axial direction relative to said shiftselector tube to engage said interengagable means and prevent rotationof said shift selector tube and said steering shaft relative to saidouter tube,

said sleeve being movable in the other axial direction relative to saidshift selector tube to disengage said interengagable means and permitrotation of said shift selector tube and said steering shaft relative tosaid outer tube.

5. A lockable steering column assembly for an automotive vehiclecomprising:

an outer tube attached to the body portion of the automotive vehicle,

a shift selector tube received within the outer tube being rotatablerelative thereto,

a steering shaft received within the shift selector tube being rotatablerelative to the outer tube and the shift selector tube,

a collar positioned about said steering shaft and connected thereto torotate therewith, said collar having a plurality of axially openinggrooves,

an axially slidable sleeve positioned about said shift selector tube andconnected thereto to rotate therewith,

one or more axially extending slots formed in said shift selector tube,

radially inwardly directed means connected to said sleeve extendingthrough said slots and engagable with said grooves of said collar,

a member secured to said outer tube extending radially inwardlytherefrom including one or more openings,

said sleeve having one or more axially extending fingers receivablewithin said openings,

said sleeve being movable in one axial direction on said shift selectortube to engage said radially inwardly directed means with said groovesand said fingers with said openings to lock said steering shaft and saidshift selector tube from rotation relative to said outer tube, saidfingers being receivable within said openings only for thosepredetermined positions of rotation of the shift selector tube in whichthe fingers and openings are aligned,

said sleeve being movable in the other axial direction to releaseengagement of said first means and said groove and of said fingers withsaid openings.

6. A steering column assembly according to claim 5 and lock meansincluding a rotatable portion,

a key insertable into said lock means and rotatable to cause movement ofsaid rotatable portion,

second means interconnecting said rotatable portion and said sleeve sothat rotation of said rotatable portion causes axial movement of saidsleeve along said shift tube selector.

7. A steering column according to claim 6, and

said rotatable portion including a pinion gear,

said second means including a rack engagable with said pinion gear,

said sleeve member including an annular groove having a radiallyoutwardly directed opening,

a finger extending radially inwardly from said second means into saidgroove, said shift selector tube being axially rotatable relative tosaid finger, said shift selector tube and said finger movable togetherin axial directions. 8. A steering column assembly according to claim 5and spring means biasing said collar to a normal position,

said collar being axially displaceable to accommodate misalignment ofsaid first means and said grooves. 9. A steering column assemblyaccording to claim 5 and said sleeve and said outer tube includingabutment means preventing certain axial movements of said sleeve unlessthe shift selector tube and the outer tube are in predetermined axiallyrotated relative positions.

1. A lockable steering column assembly for an automotive vehiclecomprising: an outer tube attached to the body portion of the automotivevehicle, a shift selector tube received within the outer tube beingrotatable relative thereto, a steering shaft received within the shiftselector tube being rotatable relative to the outer tube and the shiftselector tube, first interengagable means attached to said shiftselector tube and said steering shaft, respectively, being axiallyengagable and disengagable to lock and release the selector tube and thesteering shaft, second interengagable means attached to said shiftselector tube and said outer tube, respectively, being axially engagableand disengagable to lock and release the selector tube and the outertube.
 2. A lockable steering column assembly according to claim 1 andincluding: said second interengagable means including male and femaleand abutment elements, said male elements being receivable within saidfemale element upon predetermined relative axially rotated positions ofthe shift selector tube and the outer tube, said male element beingengagable with said abutment element to prevent receipt of the maleelement within the female element upon other relative axially rotatedpositions of the shift selector tube and the outer tube.
 3. A lockablesteering column assembly for an automotive vehicle comprising: an outertube attached to the body portion of the automotive vehicle, a shiftselector tube received within the outer tube being rotatable relativethereto, a steering shaft received within the shift selector tube beingrotatable relative to the outer tube and the shift selector tube, asleeve attached to said shift selector tube to rotate therewith,interengagable means formed on said sleeve, steering shaft and outertube, said sleeve being movable in one axial direction relative to saidshift selector tube to engage said interengagable means and preventrotation of said shift selector tube and said steering shaft relative tosaid outer tube, said sleeve being movable in the other axial directionrelative to said shift selector tube to disengage said interengagablemeans and permit rotation of said shift selector tube and said steeringshaft relative to said outer tube.
 4. A lockable steering columnassembly for an automotive vehicle comprising: an outer tube attached tothe body portion of the automotive vehicle, a shift selector tubereceived within the outer tube being rotatable relative thereto, asteering shaft received within the shift selector tube being rotatablerelative to the outer tube and the shift selector tube, a collarattached to said steering shaft to rotate therewith, a sleeve attachedto said shift selector tube to rotate therewith, interengagable meansformed on said collar and sleeve and on said sleeve and outer tube, saidsleeve being movable in one axial direction relative to said shiftselector tube to engage said interengagable means and prevent rotationof said shift selector tube and said steering shaft relative to saidouter tube, said sleeve being movable in the other axial directionrelative to said shift selector tube to disengage said interengagablemeans and permit rotation oF said shift selector tube and said steeringshaft relative to said outer tube.
 5. A lockable steering columnassembly for an automotive vehicle comprising: an outer tube attached tothe body portion of the automotive vehicle, a shift selector tubereceived within the outer tube being rotatable relative thereto, asteering shaft received within the shift selector tube being rotatablerelative to the outer tube and the shift selector tube, a collarpositioned about said steering shaft and connected thereto to rotatetherewith, said collar having a plurality of axially opening grooves, anaxially slidable sleeve positioned about said shift selector tube andconnected thereto to rotate therewith, one or more axially extendingslots formed in said shift selector tube, radially inwardly directedmeans connected to said sleeve extending through said slots andengagable with said grooves of said collar, a member secured to saidouter tube extending radially inwardly therefrom including one or moreopenings, said sleeve having one or more axially extending fingersreceivable within said openings, said sleeve being movable in one axialdirection on said shift selector tube to engage said radially inwardlydirected means with said grooves and said fingers with said openings tolock said steering shaft and said shift selector tube from rotationrelative to said outer tube, said fingers being receivable within saidopenings only for those predetermined positions of rotation of the shiftselector tube in which the fingers and openings are aligned, said sleevebeing movable in the other axial direction to release engagement of saidfirst means and said groove and of said fingers with said openings.
 6. Asteering column assembly according to claim 5 and lock means including arotatable portion, a key insertable into said lock means and rotatableto cause movement of said rotatable portion, second meansinterconnecting said rotatable portion and said sleeve so that rotationof said rotatable portion causes axial movement of said sleeve alongsaid shift tube selector.
 7. A steering column according to claim 6, andsaid rotatable portion including a pinion gear, said second meansincluding a rack engagable with said pinion gear, said sleeve memberincluding an annular groove having a radially outwardly directedopening, a finger extending radially inwardly from said second meansinto said groove, said shift selector tube being axially rotatablerelative to said finger, said shift selector tube and said fingermovable together in axial directions.
 8. A steering column assemblyaccording to claim 5 and spring means biasing said collar to a normalposition, said collar being axially displaceable to accommodatemisalignment of said first means and said grooves.
 9. A steering columnassembly according to claim 5 and said sleeve and said outer tubeincluding abutment means preventing certain axial movements of saidsleeve unless the shift selector tube and the outer tube are inpredetermined axially rotated relative positions.